Building a Better Wetsuit

Wetsuit companies use a host of tools and techniques to construct suits that are fast and comfortable. These are some of the ways they’re working to get you out of the water quicker and happier.

Athlete feedback: Many brands rely on professionals and amateurs to critique and improve suit design and fit. Swimming in a suit is still the most important step.

Fit: Tailoring semi-rigid neoprene into a precise fit is challenging, and wetsuit makers by and large do a great job. TYR, for example, has experienced apparel designers shape its suits, and the products earn high praise as a result.

Trial and error: ROKA has the ability to quickly create a suit prototype. The company makes many different suits through the course of a year and experiments until it finds a formula that works.

Measurement: Some wetsuit manufacturers measure the performance of their suits using in-house and third-party tests.

Materials: Neoprene manufacturers update the rubber and jersey liners used in wetsuits, offering more options for how a suit can be constructed.